The characteristics of the Messianic Kingdom

In today’s passage, Zechariah’s prophecy comes to an end. Fittingly, it concludes by showing that the distinguishing characteristic of the Messianic Kingdom will be “holiness.” “On that day there will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, ‘Holy to the Lord.’ And the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the bowls before the altar” (v 20). (1) “On that day” refers to the age of the Messianic Kingdom. (2) The phrase “Holy to the Lord” was inscribed on the gold plate attached to the high priest’s turban (ref. Ex. 28:36-37). (3) The words that signify consecration will even be inscribed “on the bells of the horses.” In other words, even such ordinary, everyday objects will be set apart as holy. (4) Under the regulations of the Mosaic Law, “the cooking pots in the Lord’s house” were vessels used for boiling the sacrifices, while “the bowls before the altar” were containers used to hold the blood of the sacrifices. The two did not possess the same degree of holiness. However, in the Messianic Kingdom, both will be regarded as having the same holiness. Holiness will become such a universal characteristic that this distinction will no longer exist. “Every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the Lord of armies; and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and boil in them. And there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of armies on that day” (v 21). (1) Not only the pots and bowls in the Temple, but every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will become “holy to the Lord of armies.” Therefore, there will be no distinction between sacred and ordinary vessels, and even pots used in everyday life may be used in the worship of the Lord without any problem. (2) “And there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of armies on that day.” The word translated “Canaanite” can also be rendered “merchant.” In other words, morally and spiritually unclean people will no longer be present in the Temple, and therefore the Temple will never again be defiled.

Application for us

The Bible must be interpreted literally. Figurative (symbolic) interpretation carries the danger of distorting the original meaning of the text. The Messianic Kingdom will be established on the earth exactly as Zechariah prophesied. This is the conclusion that follows from a literal interpretation of Scripture. When the end-time events are arranged in chronological order, they are as follows: the Rapture → the Great Tribulation → the Battle of Armageddon → the Conversion of Israel → the Second Coming of the Messiah → the Establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. We are moving toward the fulfillment of this great divine scenario. Each of us has been entrusted with a role to play within it. Let us give thanks to God for that privilege.